May 17th, 2012 |
Author: Jessica | Filed under: COOP
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In keeping true to our post from yesterday, here is a small sneak peek at some of what you can expect from the LOOK category on COOP.
–Jessica
Hey Birdhouse readers, I’m Ginger from Sequel-Sequel. I’m SO excited to be writing for/helping with Birdhouse’s new adventure, COOP. So today I’m going to share on a topic that both Jessica and I have seeded in the depths of our bones: fashion. And I’m not talking as if I’m a total snob or that I know the rights and wrongs of everyday apparel, but I would say I’m a first impression observer. If you dress the part and are confident in your choice, that always makes for a good combination in any practicing field. I am also an interior designer, practicing on the other side of that world in commercial interiors. So unfortunately, my first impressions for clients have to come from a very business attire point of view. It’s a bit of a drag to always shop with an idea of “Okay, how could I wear that to work?” because street clothes are so much more fun to wear and buy.
Let’s face it, clothes are expensive. As much as I would love to look like a walking Anthropologie or J.Crew ad day to day, reality hits my checkbook every single month and keeps me a window shopper more often than not. However, with a little thought, a little budget, and a few staple pieces, achieving a personal style fit for you is WAY better than the generic ill fitting suit (which Jessica coined in an earlier post). Take a look at how I can pull three different looks from one higher priced piece in my closet. (All of which will keep me flying under the radar of the ever-so-dreaded “write up” in my company’s wardrobe rule book.)
LOOK 1:
Shirt: Banana Republic (regular price staple piece), Blazer: GAP (end of season sale rack), Skirt: Forever 21 (always affordable, just don’t dry it or maybe don’t wash it, Febreze should do the trick), Socks: Target (another affordable clothing/accessory option), Shoes: Franco Sarto (via Von Maur shoe sale. OH: and that interest-free credit card thing? It’s like layaway that I can take home with me that day). I try to always challenge myself to add some punch of color if my outfit has a lot of blacks or neutrals.
LOOK 2:
Shirt: staple piece, Vest: Express (end of season sale rack), Skirt: thrifted, Belt: thrifted, Shoes: Nine West (end of season shoe sale at Dillard’s). I can’t stop laughing at how ridiculous I look in that second photo. I mean, senior picture moment! But I had to include it so you could laugh at my obviously amateur modeling abilities.
LOOK 3:
Shirt: staple piece, Pants: GAP, Belt: thrifted, Shoes: LuLu*s, Necklace: The Oxford Trunk (Gifted by my little boy for Mother’s Day. Like, melt my face off when I opened that gift up). This look is one of my favorites. The necklace comes from an online boutique (which I discovered via Instagram) that sells jewelry for a very affordable price. This will not be my only piece, fyi.
May 16th, 2012 |
Author: Jessica | Filed under: Events, Uncategorized
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I started my interior design company, Birdhouse, with the notion of accessibility. Month after month I would get my lifestyle, shelter and fashion magazines and, while flipping through the glossy pages, I was often left with the sinking and almost crippling feelings of envy and self-doubt.
Why couldn’t I have that couch? I must be such a failure since I can’t afford that gorgeous pair of shoes. How can I compare to all the amazing designers out there decorating with $100,000 budgets? All of these thoughts ran through my mind, picking away at my self-worth, salting the wounds of my insecurities.
Birdhouse was supposed to break that cycle and it has in many ways. But living and designing in a very Midwestern (i.e., hard-working and budget-friendly) city has highlighted that I am far from the only one feeling overwhelmed by fashion, art and design. I’ve noticed that most people have chosen to handle this scary situation by avoiding it entirely and, like we often do when feeling vulnerable, getting very defensive.
Finally, it dawned on me that when people are feeling shaky about the way they present themselves to the world, they can lash out. I’ve been known to throw a magazine across the room after reading a particularly flashy interior design article filled with unattainable items, so I get the frustration. I also understand that many interior designers and “lifestyle experts” are pretty snobby and the design world can feel a bit like high school. Unfortunately, I then realized that people thought that I was that snobby girl because of my profession.
But here’s the thing: it’s not about having the best things or being the perfect representation of glamourous people. It’s about loving where you live and loving the people who surround you. At the end of the day, people love to come to a house that they feel comfortable hanging out in. It’s an added perk if they think it is pretty. Think about the hotels you choose to stay in. You pick the really stylish and welcoming ones, right? When you complement that with great food and delicious drinks, you are guaranteed to have friends lining up at your door.
This is why Christopher – who brings cooking and gardening to the table – and I wanted to start COOP. To show you how you can live well on any budget. We want to share the high end version of life and show you how to tweak it to fit in your comfort zone. Splurge here, save there. Keep it classic, but don’t be afraid to cheat a little. It’s sort of like the Cliffs Notes version.
We don’t take ourselves too seriously. There are no real experts on lifestyle. Only people who are excited to share some ideas that have helped them have good experiences. That’s our goal. Create good experiences that add to your catalog of great memories.
COOP is set to launch June 12, and we couldn’t be more thrilled. Starting tomorrow (on Birdhouse) we are going to show little sneak peeks on what COOP will really be about. The most exciting part about all of this is that Christopher and I won’t be the only ones sharing our passions and knowledge. We’ll have a great group of contributors discussing a bevy of related topics. You can also sign up for updates teasing our progress and sharing more about the type of articles you can expect.
May 12th, 2012 |
Author: Jessica | Filed under: Entertaining, food/recipes, our house
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I think I realized I was an adult when I stopped wanting to go to the bar every weekend, paying someone else money for a few cocktails, and started to want to stay at our house and make our own. It stays fun by inviting people over to enjoy those drinks with you. Add some good food, and fun will surely ensue.
Simply Lemonade, Blueberry Vodka, Blueberries. Boom.
We had leftover lemonade from a presentation we had earlier in the day down at our studio. I poured a bottle of Stoli Blueberry and a pint of fresh blueberries and it was delicious. It looked like I went all out, but in reality it took me less than a minute.
Apples, Crackers, Pretzels, Prosciutto, Gouda, Blue Shropshire.
It’s all about the presentation. You don’t have to have everything homemade – though it works well to add some freshly made items into the rest of the mix – if you present it in a pleasing way. Don’t just throw the bags of crackers and pretzels on the table. Take 10 extra seconds and put them in cute bowls. Create a super easy meat and cheese board. It all adds up to a charming display that can take hardly any time.